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HISTORY
Until relatively recent times the island of Mauritius remained unknown
to, and untouched by, the outside world. A small dot of land in the
immensity of the Indian Ocean which contained largely self-contained
eco-system preserved a heritage of flora and fauna that had altered
little since the dawn of history.
Around the year 1,000 some Arab sailors set foot on the island but
did not spent much time on it. However, this marked the beginning
of an era rich in explorations and discoveries.
The Dutch were the first to set a colony on the island in 1598 but
soon abandoned the land leaving behind some planters and slaves. The
island was successively taken over by the French and the British Empire
until the country became independent in 1968.
The history of Mauritius is marked by immigration of people from Asia
(mainly India and China), from Europe (mainly France) and Africa (mainland
Africa and Madagascar).
Mauritius will ever be known as the crossroad for different civilizations,
culture and people. In fact, Mauritius is a melting pot where people
whose ancestors came from different horizons live in perfect harmony………an
example to the rest of the world.
Its calmness, peace and harmony prevailing in this heaven lost in
the middle of the ocean have given Mauritius the nickname of the Star
and Key of the Indian Ocean. CLIMATE
There are 2 seasons: summer (November to April), with an average temperature
of 30°; and winter (May to September) with a variation of temperatures
from 17° at night to 24° in mid-afternoon. In between, a pleasant
period from September to November with temperatures between 25°
and 28°, Mauritius does not suffer from a monsoon climate.
The sun rises at 5.00am and sets at 7.00pm in Summer and in Winter,
rises at 6.00am and sets at 6.00pm.
December through March is the best time for diving, when the waters
are at their clearest; June through August is best for surfing; and
October through April is excellent for big game fishing, when the
large predators feed close to shore. View
details of our climate table |
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